Vibrant Site
George Cranford
When you consider all the time and money you’ll spend on your wedding, it should be a romantic, dynamic adventure.
There’s an allure to ceremonies and receptions held at unconventional locations. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate their wedding at a ski resort, historic mansion, in the gardens of a country estate or atop a skyscraper?
No matter what your wedding’s theme or size, to assure its success, think colorful location, careful preparation and consistency.
Personality and imagination are important in making your selection. Nearly any Long Island setting can be turned into an extraordinary wedding site. Explore your options with a budget and style in mind. If the wedding is formal, you may consider full-service hotels, catering halls, country clubs or restaurants. Decide whether you want an indoor or outdoor event. Many locations offer both.
Some couples, for example, make their weddings stand out by entering the medieval world of castles, fair maidens and chivalry.
Donna Turner, marketing manager for Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla., said the splendor and pomp of 11th-century heraldry is increasingly popular. It can feature clashing broadswords, thundering horseback jousts and surreal medieval backdrops, as well as courtly courtesies and grand romance.
As you narrow your choice, confirm that the location is open to weddings and available. Make sure it’s large enough and ask about décor, cuisine, cocktail packages, entertainment and related costs.
After the top candidates are selected, arrange to visit and inspect them. Ask questions about menus, decorations, overnight accommodations and restrictions. Don’t sign a contract until you’ve compared notes on features and benefits.
Some adventuresome brides begin the planning process in reverse. They first search for an exciting location and then tailor the wedding to fit the setting. An example of this is the growing popularity of museums found in many places.
Officially a state park, the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento claims to be the nation’s largest and most popular railroad museum. The main area houses 23 restored diesel and steam locomotives in a 19th-century setting of trusses, tracks and old bridges.
Wedding parties can take the museum’s 45-minute excursion on a train featuring a vintage locomotive, early coaches, open gondola cars, private dining car and aging caboose.
Most brides realize that a site’s ambiance is flexible. A riverboat, cruise ship or casino hotel can be casual, semiformal or formal. Preference sets most standards for style. Companies that cater to weddings offer choices of set packages or customized events.
Some places have staff coordinators who arrange and manage details. Full-service locations often provide linens, decorations, wedding cakes, in-house catering, cocktails, photographers, limousine services, bands, DJs, stages and bandstands. Staff generally can adapt the décor to a specific theme.
For some couples, however, an exciting wedding means whitecapped waves, a crashing surf and the heaving prow of a gaff-rigged, topsail schooner.
Captain Rob Michaan of Discovery Yacht Charters in Sausalito, Calif., is a minister who marries couples aboard his 86-foot schooner “Ka’iulani” in San Francisco Bay. The wedding party and guests can roll with the waves or sail in tranquility.
Michaan said video cameras can be mounted on a sailboat’s mainmast to record ceremonies. Bridal couples often bring musicians or have their favorite CDs played on a yacht’s sound system. Dress can be formal or casual, depending on the couple’s choice for the style of cruise.
“It’s outdoors and the real thing – it can be as exciting as the bride wants it to be,” Michaan said.
History can offer you and your fiancé a sense of permanence. Couples often choose historic mansions as their wedding venues. Many communities have magnificently preserved homes to choose from. These mansions often provide scenic locations – both inside and out – for ceremonies.
Bridal couples shopping for imaginative suggestions often turn to full-service caterers. They know who to contact for anything from entertainment and seating to horse-drawn carriages and hot-air balloons.
If the wedding is at a rental site or outdoor facility without furnishings, caterers usually can supply tables and chairs, fine china and silverware, portable dance floors, champagne fountains, tents, theatrical props, wedding arches, chuppahs, costumes and more.
Some rental sites have liquor licenses, but there may be legal restrictions. Others are alcohol-free. Make sure of any limitations before signing a contract. Some caterers provide alcoholic beverages while others only offer bar equipment and bartenders. Couples may have to purchase packaged liquor, beer, wine and champagne themselves.
Unusual wedding sites on Long Island are plentiful and creative ideas are boundless. Find the right combination and your family and guests will never forget it.
Help make it the adventure of a lifetime for everyone, including you and your new spouse.